Friday, February 24, 2006

Keep an open mind about hiring sectors

This may be a topic I’ve addressed before but it’s worth repeating.

If you’re a college senior, chances are you’re being plagued by post graduation questions about the next step. In your search for that next step, by all means, keep an open mind. Allow yourself to be curious and investigate any and all possibilities.

For instance, I was talking with a recruiter for the border patrol at a job fair last week. The job opportunities seemed obvious—border patrol agents to walk the borders. Well, I not only learned that prospective agents can select their area of interest-as in canine, equestrian or even helicopter- but the resulting training will then include a focus where there’s some interest.

So, what else was she looking for? Accountants. Yes, you heard right. Accountants. It makes sense when you think about it. Of course, I thought, the border patrol has to balance the budget and pay the bills, just like any normal business. But at first glance, I would not think of suggesting this government agency to senior accounting majors.

So, keeping an open mind and asking a lot of questions—just two ways to tap into those hidden job opportunities.